Learning Outcomes

Program in Applied Math & Scientific Computation

Masters

• Applied Mathematics - Students will demonstrate a some mastery of advanced mathematics or statistics and of an application area. Students will show some familiarity with research in an area of applied mathematics or statistics. Students will gain experience in communicating applied mathematics or statistics both to a specialized audience and to a larger scientific community.
• Scientific Computation - Students will demonstrate some mastery of scientific computation and of an application area. Students will show some familiarty with research in scientific computation. Students will gain experience in communicating scientific computation both to a specialized audience and to a larger scientific community. Students will be prepared to enter the scientific computation community either in academia, in government, or in industry.

Doctorate

• Applied Mathematics - Students will demonstrate a mastery of advanced mathematics or statistics and of an application area. Students will do original research in an important area of applied mathematics or statistics. Students will gain experience in communicating applied mathematics or statistics both to a specialized audience and to the larger scientific community. Students will be prepared to enter the applied mathematics community in academia, in government, or in industry.
• Scientific Computation - Students will demonstrate a mastery of advanced scientific computation and of an application area. Students will do original research in an important area of scientific computation. Students will gain experience in communicating scinetific computation to a specialized audience and to the larger scinetific community. Students will be prepared to enter the scientific computation community in academia, in government, or in industry.

Department of Astronomy

Bachelors

• Astronomy - Identify basic concepts from the many areas of astronomy, including motions in the sky, gravity, electromagnetic radiation, solar system, stars, and galaxies. Develop mathematical skills, acquire physics knowledge, and practice applying these skills and knowledge to astrophysical situations. Use astronomical telescopes/instruments and reduce astronomical data using modern computational methods. Demonstrate advanced level knowledge in several different areas of astronomy.

Masters

• Astronomy - Demonstrate advanced-level knowledge of astronomy. Design a scientific project, complete the research, and communicate the results in an oral presentation and a scholarly work. Develop expertise in an area of modern astronomy.

Doctorate

• Astronomy - Demonstrate advanced-level knowledge of astronomy. Design a scientific project, complete the research, and communicate the results in an oral presentation and a scholarly work. Develop expertise in an area of modern astronomy. Make original contributions to the field of astronomy at the international level.

Department of Computer Science

Bachelors

• Computer Science - Graduates will be able to create, augment, debug and test computer software. These skills will be built progressively through the courses in the introductory sequence of courses. Graduates of this program will develop mathematical and analytical reasoning skills. Graduates will experience design and implementation of programming projects that are more similar to those that would be seen in a real world environment. In addition to those skills mentioned above needed by all computer science graduates, the students must also gain skills and knowledge in one or more of the following areas of computer science: Graduates will be exposed to working closely with other people. This human interaction is manifested in several ways: design of software/hardware based on user input and feedback, working as a member of a programming team, and making presentations to groups about what has been designed and/or implemented; Graduates will be exposed to some form of academic research or real world programming/business environments. This exposure makes their transition to either graduate school or the work environment smoother; Graduates will obtain a high level of skill in mathematical reasoning about algorithms, data structures, protocols and other objects in computer science.

Masters

• Computer Science - Master’s graduates will learn to design and implement computer software. Master’s graduates will develop their skills in writing. Master’s graduates will develop their skills in research: proposal writing, research, writing and presentation.

Doctorate

• Computer Science - Ph.D. graduates will learn to design and implement computer software. Ph.D. graduates will demonstrate their ability to perform independent research, write a proposal, and develop a reading list to demonstrate their knowledge of three areas related to their research. Ph.D. graduates will complete extensive independent research and have at least one paper accepted by a conference or published in a refereed journal. Ph.D. graduates will have their research accepted for presentation at subject area conferences and the Ph.D. graduate will have made the presentation of their research material. Ph.D. graduate demonstrate their ability to write well as well as their ability to present and discuss what has been written.

Department of Geology

Bachelors

• Geology - Students will demonstrate competence in the design and execution of research in Geosciences. Students will demonstrate a competence in the standard media of professional communications in Geosciences, including written manuscripts, oral presentations, and poster presentations. Students will demonstrate competent knowledge of a broad cross-section of Geosciences subject material. Students will demonstrate the ability to gain in-depth knowledge of a specific area of Geosciences in the context of active Geosciences research.

Masters

• Geology - Make significant scholarly contributions. Demonstrate knowledge of content area to an appropriate depth and breadth. Successful placement of masters students in appropriate jobs. Demonstration of commitment to education and community outreach activities.

Doctorate

• Geology - Make significant scholarly contributions. Demonstrate knowledge of content area to an appropriate depth and breadth. Successful placement of doctoral students in appropriate jobs. Demonstration of commitment to education and community outreach activities.

Institute for Physical Science and Technology

Masters

• Chemical Physics - Joint Program - Students will demonstrate that they have developed the intellectual foundation for their proposed line of work. This is done through formal coursework, in which they acquire the factual and theoretical knowledge that form the basis for understanding chemical physics systems and for carrying out research in chemical physics. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the modern experimental methods needed to investigate chemical physics systems. Students will demonstrate skill at critically evaluating and communicating scientific ideas and results through written and oral means. Students have the option of either a thesis or non-thesis M.S. degree. M.S. thesis degree students carry out research with experimentalists learning to design and perform experiments efficiently, analyze data and interpret the results using applicable theory. Theory students learn to formulate research problems in the context of current theory, and, when applicable, compare the theoretical results to experimental measurements. Computational skills are developed.

Doctorate

• Chemical Physics - Joint Program - Students will demonstrate that they have developed the intellectual foundation for their proposed field of research. This is done through formal coursework, in which they acquire the factual and theoretical knowledge that form the basis for understanding chemical physics systems and for carrying out original research in chemical physics. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the modern experimental methods needed to investigate chemical physics systems. Students will demonstrate skill at critically evaluating and communicating scientific ideas and results through written and oral means. Students carry out original research. Experimentalists learn to design and perform experiments efficiently, analyze data and interpret the results using applicable theory. Theory students learn to formulate research problems in the context of current theory, and, when applicable, compare the theoretical results to experimental measurements. Computational skills are developed.

Department of Mathematics

Bachelors

• Mathematics - Students will acquire problem-solving skills in a broad range of significant Mathematics. Students will gain an understanding of what constitutes mathematical thinking, including the ability to produce and judge the validity of rigorous mathematical arguments. Students will be able to communicate mathematical ideas and arguments. Students will be prepared to use mathematics in their future endeavors, not only in the discipline of mathematics but also in other disciplines.

Masters

• Mathematics - Students will demonstrate a mastery of advanced mathematical concepts and techniques of problem solving. Students will demonstrate an ability to assimilate and communicate a body of mathematics. Students will be prepared to enter the professional mathematics community as teachers or as mathematicians working in government, business, or industry.
• Mathematical Statistics - Students will master the fundamental principles of statistics, probability and mathematics which underlie all statistical research and application. Students will master major techniques of data analysis, statistical computation and application of statistical methodology to real-world problems. Students will develop skills in communicating the results of statistical analyses. Students will successfully enter the statistical profession in government, industry or higher education, performing meaningful professional level work and thereby advancing the interests of their employers.
• Mathematics of Advanced Industrial Technology - Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the fundamentals of harmonic analysis including theoretical results, basic applications of these results in signal processing, and computational implementation of this material. Students will demonstrate their knowledge in cutting edge technologies relevant to the core courses, and show their understanding of the place of the core courses for a given technology. These technologies are the subject of various courses including the following: Quantum Information, Detection, and Computation (MAIT 615); Advanced Modern Mathematical Methods of Signal and Image Processing (MAIT 624); Fast Multipole Methods (MAIT 627); Fourier based Scientific Computing for Advanced Industrial Mathematics (MAIT 660); and Computational Time-Frequency Analysis (MAIT 679E). Students will provide a major written research project intended to allow students to apply advanced mathematical methods to practical, real-world problems.
  Doctorate
• Mathematics - Students will demonstrate a mastery of advanced mathematical concepts and techniques of problem solving. Students will do original research in an important area of mathematics. Students will gain experience in communicating mathematics. Students will be prepared to enter the professional mathematics community as teachers, as academic researchers, or as mathematicians working in government, business, or industry.
• Mathematical Statistics - Students will demonstrate depth of knowledge of the fundamental principles of statistics, probability and mathematics which underlie all statistical research and application. Students will conduct advanced research in mathematical statistics, probability and/or applications of statistics to scientific problems. Students will successfully enter the statistical profession. Graduates will launch careers in the academic world, government or industry at levels appropriate for their training and education. Students will communicate research findings to a statistical audience and to the larger scientific community.

Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

Masters

• Atmosphere & Oceanic Science - Demonstrate knowledge of broad and specialty content areas. Demonstrate knowledge of proposal writing. Demonstrate competence in research and extended exposition. Students will be prepared to use their expertise in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science and more generally in scientific research skills in their future endeavors, not only within the discipline itself but also drawing on this information in other careers.

Doctorate

• Meteorology - Atmosphere & Oceanic Science - Demonstrate knowledge of broad and specialty content areas. Demonstrate ability to construct a research proposal. Demonstrate competence in research. Demonstrate competence in oral exposition. Students will be prepared to use their expertise in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science and more generally in scientific research skills in their future endeavors, not only within the discipline itself but also drawing on this information in other careers.

Department of Physics and Physical Sciences

Bachelors

• Physical Sciences - Students will demonstrate analytic thinking and problem solving skills in a variety of areas of the Physical Sciences. Students will demonstrate advanced levels of knowledge in three areas of concentration within the Physical Sciences. Students will be prepared to enter the workforce in careers that require a broad scientific background.
• Physics - Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the core areas of physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, and quantum mechanics. This knowledge will be at a level compatible with admission to graduate programs in physics at peer institutions. Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the necessary mathematics required for qualitative and qualitative analysis of problems in the core areas of physics. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret quantitative results, both in the core areas of physics and in complex problems that cross multiple core areas. They will also have the ability to assess and solve unfamiliar problems in physics using the knowledge and skills acquired. Students will demonstrate the ability to use contemporary experimental apparatus common to the study of physical phenomena, and have the ability to acquire, analyze and interpret scientific data. Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific results effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Masters

• Physics - Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge of the core areas of physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, and quantum mechanics. Students will demonstrate a mastery of the concepts and literature of a specific sub-discipline of physics, such as theoretical condensed matter physics or experimental particle physics. Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific results effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Doctorate

• Physics - Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge of the core areas of physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, and quantum mechanics. Students will demonstrate a mastery of the concepts and literature of a specific sub-discipline of physics, such as theoretical condensed matter physics or experimental particle physics. Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct original research. Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific results effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Minors

Department of Astronomy

• Astronomy - Identify basic concepts from the many areas of astronomy, including motions in the sky, gravity, electromagnetic radiation, solar system, stars, and galaxies. Recognize and apply the scientific method to solve astronomical problems. Critically evaluate hypotheses and theories proposed using the scientific method. Demonstrate a deeper understanding in several areas of astronomy. Develop skills to facilitate the continued the study of astronomy.

Department of Computer Science

• Computer Science - Graduates of this program will be able to create, augment, debug and test code in a high level programming language. These skills will be built progressively through the courses in the introductory sequence of courses. Graduates of this program will develop mathematical and analytical reasoning skills. In addition to those skills mentioned above needed by all computer science graduates with a minor, students must also gain skills and knowledge in one or more of the following areas of computer science: Graduates with the CS minor, may elect to further develop their programming skills beyond the required courses; Graduates with the minor may also be exposed to working closely with other people. This human interaction is manifested in several ways: design of software/hardware based on user input and feedback, working as a member of a programming team, and making presentations to groups about what has been designed and/or implemented; Graduates with the minor may also be exposed to some form of academic research or real world programming/business environments. This exposure makes their transition to either graduate school or the work environment smoother; Graduates in the minor may also obtain a high level of skill in mathematical reasoning about algorithms, data structures, protocols and other objects in computer science.

Department of Geology

• Earth History - Students will demonstrate competent written communications skills consistent with the general standards of natural sciences. Students will demonstrate competent knowledge of a broad cross-section of Geosciences subject material. Students will demonstrate competence in academic research, including the proper use of library and other research materials.
• Earth Material Properties - Students will demonstrate competent written communications skills consistent with the general standards of natural sciences. Students will demonstrate competent knowledge of a broad cross-section of Geosciences subject material. Students will demonstrate competence in academic research, including the proper use of library and other research materials.
• Hydrology - Students will demonstrate competent written communications skills consistent with the general standards of natural sciences. Students will demonstrate competent knowledge of a broad cross-section of Geosciences subject material. Students will demonstrate competence in academic research based on field observation and library based research methods.
• Surficial Geology - Students will demonstrate competent written communications skills consistent with the general standards of natural sciences. Students will demonstrate competent knowledge of a broad cross-section of Geosciences subject material. Students will demonstrate competence in academic research, including the proper use of library and other research materials.

Department of Mathematics

• Actuarial Mathematics - The student pursuing a Minor in Mathematics will gain an understanding of what constitutes mathematical thinking, including the ability to produce and judge the validity of rigorous mathematical arguments. The Minor in Mathematics program is designed to offer students outside of mathematics significant mathematical skills and a perspective on the discipline. It is expected that the Minor in Mathematics Program will be successful in promoting mathematics for such students.
• Statistics - Students will demonstrate knowledge of the mathematical underpinnings of statistical practice. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the principles of data analysis and interpretation and of computational methods of statistics. Students will communicate statistical ideas and arguments.

Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

• Atmospheric Chemistry - Students will demonstrate knowledge depth in content areas of atmospheric physics, dynamics, and air chemistry (discipline, knowledge base) at a level sufficient to prepare the student for graduate work in atmospheric sciences and related disciplines. Students will gain understanding of what constitutes scientific thinking, including the ability to produce and judge the validity of arguments regarding cause and effect environmental sciences. Students will be prepared to use understanding of Air Chemistry in their future endeavors, not only within the discipline itself but also drawing on this information in other careers.
• Meteorology - Students will demonstrate knowledge depth in content areas of atmospheric physics, dynamics, and air chemistry (discipline, knowledge base). Students will gain understanding of what constitutes scientific thinking, including the ability to produce and judge the validity of arguments regarding cause and effect environmental sciences. Students will be prepared to use understanding of meteorology in their future endeavors, not only within the discipline itself but also drawing on this information in other careers.
• Atmospheric Sciences - Students will demonstrate knowledge depth in atmospheric physics, dynamics, and air chemistry at a level sufficient to prepare the student for graduate work in atmospheric sciences and related disciplines. Students will gain understanding of what constitutes scientific thinking, including the ability to produce and judge the validity of arguments regarding cause and effect environmental sciences. Students will be prepared to use understanding of Atmospheric Science in their future endeavors, not only within the discipline itself but also drawing on this information in other careers.

Department of Physics and Physical Sciences

• Physics - Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the core areas of physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, and quantum mechanics. Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the necessary mathematics required for qualitative and qualitative analysis of problems in the core areas of physics. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret quantitative results, both in the core areas of physics and in complex problems that cross multiple core areas. They will also have the ability to assess and solve unfamiliar problems in physics using the knowledge and skills acquired.

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